Reversible outer garment



Oct.A 31, 1944. J, T CALLAHAN ETAL 2,361,381

REVERSIBLE OUTER GARMENT Filed March 8, '1945 Patented oct. s1, 1944 JohnV T. Callahan, West Newton, and John Arthur Glbertson, Milford, Mass., assignors to Archer Rubber Company, Milford, Mass., a corporation of lVIassachusetts Application March 8, 1943, Serial No. 478,336

(Cl. 2--93v) 10 Claims.

This invention pertains to waterproof or Waterrepellent outer garments, more especially to garments of the type disclosed in our copending applicationY for Letters Patent Serial No. 473,074, filed' January 21, 1943. The sleeved garment described' in said application is so designed as to furnish adequate ventilation while dispensing with the usual exposedshoulder seams, and consists ofbut four pieces of material (excluding thev collar and trim). Thus, the body of the coat comprises a unitary yoke member with which the sleeves are integral and whose rear portion forms a freely swinging flap or cape; a back member whose upper portion extends upwardly beneath said loose nap or cape and whose upper end is permanently secured to the collar; and two side members.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a sleeved garment embodying all of the desirable features and advantages disclosed inthe aforesaid application but which is reversible so that it may be worn either side out at will and without sacrifice of its water-repellent function or adequacy of ventilation when worn ineither way and'which is of substantially the same structural design when work either side out. Such reversibility is often desirable, for example; to permit theI alternative exposure of surfaces of dierent finishes, for instance, smooth or rough; or when the garment is to be used in the military service to permit alternative exposure of surfaces of different colors'or patterns, for instance, for camouflage purposes.

Other and further objects and advantages of theinvention will be pointed out in the following more detailed descriptionv and by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective View of the complete garment'showing its front portion;

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the rear of the gar-v ment;

Fig. 3 'is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the garment as having been turned inside out;A

Fig. 9 is a similar view of a blank usefulin forming the Vback member of the garment.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l' designates the completed garment which is here shown' in a diagrammatic wayand without .attempt to illustrate the natural draping of the fabric or'usual or minor details'of construction. This garment, except for the collar Zhand. customary elements of trim, for example pockets and pocket-stays, button and button-ny, facings and similar reinforcements, consists solely of four pieces of material, to wit, the yoke member 1, the back member I4 and the two front members 5 and 6. The yoke member l' (Fig. 8) consists of a single integral piece of material. This. material is of any desired character useful' in making the intended type of garment; for instance,

if the garment is to be of waterproof orwaterrepellent type, the'material may beraf textileV fabric impregnated', sprayed or coated", withaE water-resistant or water-repellentmedium, forinstance, rubber or rubber compound, if available, or one of the synthetic vresins or rubber substitutes', oxidized oil, or in fact any other suitable materiah When, in accordance with the present invention,- the garment isto be' made reversible, the material employed will preferablybe of diiferent surface appearance or character at its opposite sides; For'instance, one surface maybe smooth and the other maybe rough; one surface may be white and the other black, or if the garment be employed for military use and intended for camouflage, the' opposite surfaces may have different protective colorings or patterns, for ex'- ample, to imitate green foliage, andi dry' and brown foliage, respectively. Herein, for ease'of description, the surface appearance designated A (Fig. 2i) will be referred to as the outer surface, and the surface appearance designated B '(Fig. 3) will be referred to as the inner surface, with the understanding that in` accordance with the manner in which the garment is worn either of these surfaces may be exposed at its exterior.

The yoke member 'l'has a central or shoulder portion having at its forward parta neck opening 8 (Fig. 8) bounded by a curved edge 9 which intersects. forwardly divergent straight edgesV which, in the completed garment, constitute upper portions of the front closure. This yoke also comprises integral portions HJ and Il designed to form the sleeves of the garment, and also Comprisesthe portion l2 which, in the completed garment, forms a cape-like flap which hangs down v edge I3 being free from the back member except at its opposite ends.

The back member I4 (Fig. 9) is also a single, ntegral piece of material comprising a substantially rectangular lower portion and an upper portion I5 which is of more or less truncated triangular shape, tapering upwardly and having the inclined convergent edges I6 and I'I and the upper edge I8. The lower edge I5 of this back member is finished, for example, by hemming, and dej fines the lower edge of the rear part of the garment.

The upper edges of the front members 5 and 5 are secured to the yoke member by seams S- (Fig. 1) which may be stitched orcemented or combinations of stitching and cementing, the seam S being substantially in the horizontal plane of the armpit P (Fig. 4). The rear edges of the front members 5 and 6 are united to the forward, substantially vertical side edges of the back member I4 by the side seams K. The portion I2 of the yoke is of such vertical depth that it depends below the plane of the points P, its lower edge I3 being at a substantial distance, for example 6, below the horizontal plane` of the points P. At the points X (at which the edge I3 meets the seams K), the yoke is permanently united both to the back I4 and to the respective front members 5 and 6, but above the points X the lateral edges of the back I4 are not caught into the side seams K, the latter merely uniting the front ,members 5 and 6 to the respective lateral edges of the yoke from the points X to the points P. Above the horizontal plane f the points X, there is no permanent connection between the portion I of the back member andthe yoke member l,

` the edges I B and I'I of the back member always beingfree from the yoke member and thus providing slits or openings of large area leading from the interior of thek garment into the space between .the central portion of part-l5 of the vback vmember and the depending cape-like flap I2 of the yoke member. l r

The upper portion of the part I5 of the back member, adjacent to its edge I8, is provided at each of its opposite corners (Fig, 5) with a-'pair of snap fastener members I9 and 20, respectively, the two fasteners IS and 20 of each pair being oppositely arranged. Thus, assuming that -these elements I9 and 2U are the female elements of the fastener, the socketof the member 20 (Fig. 6) may be directed toward the interior of the garment, while the socket of the fastener I9 is directed toward the exterior of the garment.

The yoke membe-r 'I (Figs. 6 and 8) is similarly provided adjacent to its collar line or edge 9 with the complemental elements of the snap fasteners, such elements being arranged in pairs and indicated at 2| and 22, respectively. The male elements 2I and 22, constituting each of the pairs,

, are also arranged respectively` to face in opposite directions. The fasteners constitute releasable means for connecting thelupper end of the part I5 to the yoke member. `By this arrangement of oppositely facing fastener elements, it is possible, for example, to connect the part I5 to the part 'I so that the inner surface Bof the part with buttons 24 (Figs 4, 5 and 8)- designed to engage the buttonholes 23 and with the latter constituting separable fasteners for uniting the yoke and back member. The buttons 24,are arranged in pairs, one button 24 of each pair being disposed at the inside of the yoke member (Fig. 7), and the other button 24 disposed at the outside of the yoke member.

Assuming that the garment is arranged as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 with the surface A at the outside, and with the upper portion I5 of the back member extending up beneath the cape I2,

and further assuming that the snap fasteners.

I9, 2I are engaged thereby to unite the upper end of the part I5 with the yoke member at the collar line, and further assuming that the buttons `24 are engaged in the buttonholes 23, it will be noted that the edges IG vand I'I of the member I5 are free from the yoke member, thus providing vthe desired ventilation, and that the lower edge 4I3 of the cape member extends well below the lower ends of the Ventilating slits so that there is no danger that water will enter to the interior of the garment through these slits. If nowit be desired for any reason to have the opposite surface B of the garment exposed at the outside. the first step is to disconnect the fasteners I9, 2I and to release the buttons 24 from the buttonholes 23. Preferably, the portion I5 of the back member is now pulled down from beneath the .cape and drawn' up over the outside of the cape, as indicated in Fig. 5, whereupon the fasteners 20, 22 are engaged and the other button of each pair of buttons 24 is engaged with the corresponding -buttonhole 23. With the parts in this position, the garment is turned inside out, the sleeves be ing turned during this operation, with the result that when the turning'operation has been completed, vthe garment has the appearance shown in Fig. 3 wherein the portion I5 of the back member again lies beneath and is substantially concealedby the cape portion I2 of the garment, and with the same arrangement of Ventilating slits, although now the surface B of the garment is externally exposed throughout the entire' area of the garment. y

Asthus designed, it is readily possible for the wearer to turn the garment inside out while retainingthe desired waterproof characteristics and Ventilating capabilities, and without substantial change in the structural appearance of the garment, and in doing so all that is necessary, in addition to the mere turning of the garment, is to unbutton theportion I5 of the rear member, draw it vdown and then upwardly over the cape portion I2 and re-fasten it before turning the garment.

thepoints X and P (Figs. i and 9), with buttonholes 23; andthe yoke member 1 is furnished While snap fasteners, buttons and buttonholes have been indicated as desirable types of releasable fasteners, it is to be understood that any other suitable means may be employed, and further that any and all variations in structural details and arrangement of parts which fall within the terms of the appended claims are tobe regarded as within the scope of the invention.

We claim: l

l. A reversible garment made of material whose .opposite surfaces are diiTerent, said garment comprising a single-ply back member, a pair of front members, means permanently uniting the rear edges of the front members to the opposite edges respectively of the back member from the arm pits substantially to the -lower edge of the garment, the back member reachingv up `to the collar line, and a one-piece yoke comprising a ag'eelmei part constituting cape-like sap dispo-sesto me vmeans vbeing' so constructed and arranged'` that, 'regardless of which surface of the garment isfex-4 ternally exposed, the cape-likeflap' may always be 4disposed tothe rear'off't'he back member.

2. A* reversible' garment made of' material whose oppositesurfaces are different, said garment comprising a yoke member witnf"whch each sleeve isy integral a pair' of front' members, and a one-piece back'm'ember, means permanen'tly'uni'tingthe lrear edges ofthe front' member to' the opposite edges respectively of the back member from the'armv pitsr substantially to the lowerV edge of the garment, thepupper portion of the' back member extending upwardly within' the yoke member but which is free from the yoke member from the collar line to' points below each armepit' portion thereby providing free ventilation for the vupper portion of the garment, the

rear Apart ofthe yoke member forming a dependi ing cape-like' flap normally disposed tothe rear ofthe'back member, the lo-wer portion of said flap beingV entirely fr'ee from the back member from a point adjace'zfitA to one arm scye'toapoint "collar lir'ieto points below-i eaehfarmepittportion thereofproviding-l free; 'ventilationforr the :upper portion off the garment; the. rearY partI of.' theu yoke member' forming a depending' cape-like lapln'or'- mally'disposed toE the-.rear of the ba'ck member, the like surfaces of! the back and cape-like-fflap being-1 concomitantly' expos'edf to the exterior of the-garment; the upper end of the back member and'the'collar portion of theyoke memberih'avl 'ingi complemental elements, respectively,` of separab'l'e fasteners' exposed' at their' opposite'suri'-l faces,fan'dfthe lateral; edges of'the: back mem?- b'er and yoke member' also having` complemental elements, respectively, of separable fastener-sexp'osedf at their opposite surfaces at points below the respective arm-pit portions but above the lower-ledge of the cape-like'l'ap so that regard'- less o'f the surface of the garmentwhichvmay'be 3. A reversible garment made of material the garment, means permanently uniting the rear edges of the respective front edges to the opposite edges of the back member from the arm pits downwardly substantially to the lower edge of the garment, the `rear part of the yoke member forming a depending cape-like ap normally disposed to the rear of the upper portion of the back member, the like surfaces of the back and capelike flap being concomitantly exposed to the exterior of the garment, the lower portion of said ilap being free from the back member from adjacent to one arm scye to adjacent to the other arm scye, the upper end of the back member and the collar portion of the yoke member having complemental elements respectively of separable fasteners exposed at their opposite surfaces so that, regardless of the surface of the garment which may be externally exposed, the cape-like iiap may always be disposed rearwardly of the back member.

4. A reversible garment made of material whose opposite surfaces are different, said gar ment comprising a yoke member with which each sleeve is integral and a back member which extends upwardly within the yoke member but which is free from the yoke member from the 'externally exposed theV cape-like nap may be al"- wa'ys-disposed rearwardly'of the'backm'emb'en.

5f. A' reversible garment whose inner and outer sur-faces are different, said garment having full l'en'gtli'sleeves` and a body portion., the garment comprising a yoke member with which' each en'- tire sleeve is integrali, a back member, andi-.two front members, the back member extending upfwardly within` the rear portion of the'yoke' mem'- ber but being free from the` yokemember `except at theicollar line and at points immediately' adjacent to-each arm-pit portion thereby providing free ventilation for the upper portion of theI garlment/means` releasably uniting the up'per endof the back member to the' yoke member' at the collar line, and means releasably'uniting' the yoke member and' the back' memberv at points-'below each arm-pit portion;

6. A reversible garment whose inner and outer surfaces are different, said garment having full length Sleeves and a body portion, the garment comprising a yoke member with which each entire sleeve is integral, a back member, and two front members, the back member extending upwardly within the rear portion of the yoke member but being free from the yoke member except at the collar line and at points immediately adjacent to each arm-pit portion thereby providing free ventilation for the upper portion of the garment, the upper edge portion of the back member having at both its inner and outer sides,respec tively, one element of a separable fastener, and the yoke member having at both its inner and outer sides respectively, adjacent to the collar line, the complemental fastener elements whereby the upper end of the back member may be releasably united to the yoke adjacent to the collar line with the inner surface contacting the outer surface of the yoke or alternatively with the outer surface of the back contacting the inner surface of the yoke. l

7. A reversible, waterproof, outer `garment whose opposite sides are different, said garment having full length sleeves and a body portion and comprising a yoke member with which each entire sleeve is integral, a back member and two front members, the back member extending upwardly within the yoke member, the yoke being seamed to each front member along a line substantially in the plane of the arm-pits, the lower edge of the rear portion ofA the yoke member being at a substantial distance below the plane of the arm-pits, said lower edge being free from the back member across its entire width but bef the `yoke at points spaced above each'of'said points of permanent union, and means operative releasably to unite the upper edge of theback member to the yoke adjacent to the collar line. 8. A reversible, waterproof, outer garment `whose opposite sides are different, said garment having full length sleeves and a body'portion and manently united to the back; at points spaced below the respective arm-pits, `the back me'mber extending upwardly beneath the rear portion of the yoke memben; the' upper edge of` the back member having one element of a separable fastener and the yoke member having the complemental element of` said fastener located at a point adjacent to the collar line whereby the upper portion of the back member may be detachably united to the yoke member.

9. A reversible, waterproof, outer garment whose `opposite sides are different and which has full length sleeves and-a body portion, the gar.. ment comprising a yoke member with which each ventire sleeve is integral, a back member and two front members, the back member extending upwardly within the yoke member, and the yoke member being seamed to each front member along a line substantially in the'plane of the armpits, the rear portion of the yoke member forming `points of permanent union but below the respective arm-pits, and means releasably uniting the upper end of the back member to the yoke adjacent to the collar line.

10. A reversible, waterproof, outer garment whose opposite sides are different and which has full length sleeves and a body portion, the garment comprising a yoke member with which each entire sleeve is integral, a back member and two front members, the back member extending upwardly .within the yoke member, and the yoke member being seamed to each front member along a line substantially in the plane of the arm-pits, the rear portion of the yoke member forming a cape-like flap whose lower edge is free from the back member except at points below the respective arm-pits, means permanently uniting said lower edge portion of the yoke to the back member at said points, the yoke member having one element of a separable fastener disposed above each of said points of permanent union but below the respective arm-pits, and the back member having at its opposite sides respectivelyv complemental elements of said separable fastener whereby the opposite sides of the back Vmember may be releasably attached to the yoke member at points above the lower edge of the cape-like ap.

JOI-IN T. CALLAHAN.

JOHN ARTHUR GILBERTSON. 

